Broadbandindia Magazine

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a supplementary consultation paper on Tariff related issues for DTH services. This supplementary paper specifically deals with the certain aspects of Tariff related issues as applicable to tariff dispensation for basic and add-on packages in case of DTH services.

This supplementary consultation paper is in continuation with the consultation paper issued on “DTH Issues relating to Tariff Regulation & new issues under reference” dated March 06, 2009. Written comments on the issues raised in this supplementary consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders.

The stakeholders may furnish the same to Secretary, TRAI by 18th January 2010. Those stakeholders who have submitted their comments on earlier occasions regarding issues raised in the consultation paper dated March 06, 2009 may also submit their revised comments or supplement their earlier comments.

The comments may preferably be sent in electronic form to E-mail-ID: bcs@trai.gov.in or traicable@yahoo.co.in .

The comments received will be posted on TRAI’s website. The full text of the consultation paper is available on TRAI’s website: www.trai.gov.in .

The issues for consultations are summarised below:

1. Whether there is a need to differentiate various packages for the purpose of wholesale tariff determination?

2. If yes, how to define a basic package and add-on package for the purpose of wholesale tariff differentiation in relation to DTH services?

3. Whether there is a need for different wholesale price formulation for a TV channel/bouquet depending upon its inclusion in different packages offered to the subscribers by the DTH operators. You may also suggest any other option for differential wholesale price formulation.

4. If the wholesale price is to be linked with packaging of the TV channels then what should be the relationship between wholesale prices of a TV channel/bouquet offered by a broadcaster to a DTH operator, if the channel/bouquet is packaged as a part of a basic package, or as a part of addon- package or both by a DTH operator?

5. Why should not a DTH operator extend a-la-carte mode of service provisioning of a TV channel at the level of subscriber?

6. Can the DTH operator offer a-la-carte option as one of the entry level options for subscribers?

7. If the DTH operators are required to make available the channels on ala-carte basis to the subscriber, then what could be the minimum number of channels and/or minimum subscription price and/or minimum subscription period for subscribing to the channels?

8. In case of a-la-carte provision to the subscribers, should there be a maximum permitted time frame for servicing request of a DTH subscriber? If so what should be such time frame? Please elaborate your comments with appropriate reasoning.

9. In case of a-la-carte offering of any TV channel by a DTH operator, whether there is a need to identify relationship between wholesale and retail price of that channel?